Aldric stood near the bustling part of the town where travelers gathered. The sun was bright in the sky, and merchants were shouting their prices while caravans loaded their wagons with goods. Horses snorted, guards adjusted their weapons, and people moved in groups, preparing for the long journey out of the city.
Aldric's plan was clear. He needed to return to Duskendale, but he couldn't go alone. Traveling solo was dangerous. Bandits lurked in the wilds, beasts prowled the roads, and even worse, rogue cultivators sometimes used the wilderness to hunt weaker prey. A lone traveler would be nothing but a target.
There were many groups moving in the direction of Duskendale, but Aldric had to be careful. He couldn't just join anyone.
The first group he spotted was a caravan he recognized. They were the same merchants who had come from Duskendale originally. Their guards were familiar faces, and Aldric quickly realized it was too risky. If he slipped up and revealed too much, someone might recall where he had come from, or worse, connect him to his past as a slave. That wasn't an option. He moved on.
The second group was one that wore matching uniforms. Clearly, they were part of a faction. Their banners displayed a silver falcon crest, and their armor gleamed. They were disciplined and strong, their leader barking orders as they prepared for departure. Aldric knew right away that this wasn't possible. Factions were strict. They wouldn't just let a stranger tag along. At best, he'd be rejected. At worst, they might see him as a spy or a liability.
Then there were the groups of strong-looking individuals. Some adventurers carried weapons enchanted with faint glows. Their movements were confident, their gazes sharp. Aldric didn't even need to test them; the gap in power was obvious. If he traveled with them, he would be nothing more than a burden. Worse, if their morals weren't good, they could betray him along the road. A weak traveler carrying resources was easy prey.
After considering these options, Aldric sighed inwardly. Most of the groups were either too risky or outright impossible.
But as he walked further down the road where people were gathering, he saw something different. A small group of strangers who didn't seem connected by uniform or banner. There were only six of them, and they were talking casually, not with the discipline of a faction but with the energy of people who had only recently met.
From the bits of conversation he overheard, Aldric learned that they were traveling together toward Duskendale. They weren't a formal party, just a group of travelers who had decided to band together for safety. They looked somewhat mismatched. One man wore light leather armor and carried a bow. Another was a large fellow with a spear and a rough attitude. There was even a woman in a simple robe, clearly a mage or at least someone with some spiritual training.
Aldric's eyes lit up. This group might actually work. They weren't part of a faction, they weren't overwhelmingly strong, and they were headed in his direction. It was a rare chance.
Taking a breath, Aldric straightened his posture. He wore his freshly crafted armor and carried his katana at his side. He didn't want to look too desperate, nor too arrogant. He needed to seem reliable enough that they would accept him without suspicion.
He walked over, his boots clicking lightly against the ground. The group noticed him approaching, their conversation dying down for a moment as they sized him up. The archer gave him a quick glance, while the big man with the spear narrowed his eyes. The woman in the robe tilted her head slightly.
Aldric smiled politely, keeping his tone calm and respectful.
"Hello," he said. "I would like to join your group. You wouldn't mind, right?"
The words hung in the air for a moment.
The spear-wielding man crossed his arms and looked him up and down, clearly measuring his strength. The archer gave a small shrug, as if leaving the decision to the others. The robed woman studied him a little longer, her expression unreadable.
Aldric kept smiling, not letting the silence make him uncomfortable. He had prepared for this. He wasn't too strong, but he wasn't weak either. His armor and weapon showed that he wasn't poor or helpless. And most importantly, he was offering himself, not demanding.
Whether they accepted him or not would determine how smooth his journey to Duskendale would be.
And so, Aldric waited for their answer.